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Ethiopian New Year

Ethiopian New Year is a special day in Ethiopia when people celebrate the start of a new year. It usually happens on September 11th, but sometimes on the 12th, as the Ethiopian calendar is a little different from the one used in most other parts of the world.

On Ethiopian New Year, people wear new clothes and shoes and cook special foods to share with friends and family. They also decorate their houses with flowers and other colorful things.

This is a very joyful and happy day, and people dance and sing in the streets. They light candles and burn incense as a way of giving thanks and asking for blessings in the new year.

One of the most important traditions of Ethiopian New Year is called Enkutatash, which means "gift of jewels" in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. According to legend, the Queen of Sheba returned to Ethiopia from a trip to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem, and she brought with her a lot of valuable jewels as gifts. When the people of Ethiopia heard that she was coming back, they went out to welcome her with flowers and other gifts. That's why the holiday is also sometimes called the "Feast of Flowers".

So, in summary, Ethiopian New Year is a special celebration where people dress up, cook special foods, decorate their houses, dance and sing in the streets, light candles and burn incense, and give gifts to their loved ones. It marks the start of a new year and is a time for reflection, gratitude, and hope for the future.